About Us
Julie Hawkins
Certified Trainer, Julie Hawkins, laughs when someone
asks if she teaches “speaking skills.”
“Most people already know how to talk,” she says, smiling. “I teach people how to communicate effectively.”
It’s a distinction Julie takes seriously. Understanding the power of words, and especially the impact of the words we speak, is central to Julie’s teaching. “Do you hear what you’re saying?” she repeatedly asks her students. “Really listening to yourself is the first step in speaking so that others will want to hear what you have to say.”
Whatever she says, it’s clear people are listening to Julie. Entertaining and engaging as well as educational, her classes consistently are given top marks in participant reviews.
As a life-long learner with extensive career experience in both the “high tech” and the “high touch” fields, Julie relates equally well to those who require a logical, process approach as well as the intuitive types who prefer to feel their way. Learning to speak “their” language (whomever they may be) is another skill at which Julie excels.
“Working in high-tech investor relations taught me two very important things,” she explains. “One: things are always changing. And two: You’d better be able to deal with whatever shows up.
After 8 years in the high-tech environment, Julie decided she was ready to create some change, and in 2001, struck out on her own.
In developing her own trainings, Julie incorporates the best from her corporate expertise, varied education and the many professional areas she’s been trained in. She is professionally trained as a coach and has earned professional master certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), TimeLine™ Therapy and Hypnosis in addition to becoming a trainer in those same areas. In order to understand more effectively how the mind and body work as one, Julie has also studied several body-oriented therapies including: Acutonics® Sound Healing (needle-less acupuncture), a variety of energy-based modalities and esoteric studies including Hawaiian Huna.
“We are mental, physical and emotional beings,” she explains. “We communicate on all of those levels. Being successful requires accessing all of those levels and in our trainings we address all of those levels.”
Julie trains others in Master Presentation Skills, Using NLP to Fast-Track Your Business Success and Unlocking Your Hidden Potential – So You Can Achieve Your Impossible.
Chris Kahl
Chris Kahl, associate trainer with Julie Hawkins & Associates
knows the importance of remaining cool under pressure. She began her career
more than 30 years ago as a cardiac care nurse.
“It’s the same whether you’re a patient or a professional,” Chris says. “The universal response under stress is fight or flight. Neither one is very helpful when you need to think clearly and respond quickly.”
Seeing that both the doctors and their patients could benefit from a different approach to stressful situations, Chris began educating both groups on ways to listen to their bodies and reduce stress.
“If you’re tense, everyone can see it. How can you expect to stand confidently if you’re all wound up?”
Known for her easy manner and gentle suggestions, Chris brings her compassion, insight and flexibility to work at Julie Hawkins & Associates and helps others move ahead in their lives.